Best CURRENT muscle cars.

[JoeRocket]

list what you think is the best current muscle car (Y2K and newer).

ex.
camaro
mustang,

etc.

[Layla's Keeper]

Well, we're going to limit the muscle cars to the four seaters, since if we drag in Corvette, we've got to drag in Viper. And if we drag in Viper, that means the Mosler, the Saleen, the GT, the Panoz Esperante, and the Panoz AIV are all up for consideration, too.

And of that bunch I'd take the Mosler MT900 Photon any day of the week. Stellar looks, most car for the price, and it's a thoroughbred race car for the street instead of a sissified retro replica (GT) or tuner-ego trip (Saleen).

Now, of the modern muscle cars, the Camaro Z28 SS is the front runner. Immeasurable bang for the buck, great (if mildly prehistoric) chassis, and solid dependability.

The SVT Cobra Mustangs are right behind in second, being the more highly developed (but also more highly expensive) response to the Z28 SS. It's down to brand loyalty and hair splitting when you get to these two. (and since I'm a Mopar guy 1st, GM 2nd, Camaro gets top spot for me)

The Firebird Trans-Am WS-6 comes in a close third for being the more stylish, if slightly heavier portion of the F-body pair. It never gets the attention you'd think its muscular, heavily scooped body would command, and the SLP Firehawks were lethal.

Tie for fourth comes to the Mach 1 Mustang and the new GTO. The GTO is a poised and handsome coupe, having all the muscle needed to hang with its smaller pony car brethern and yet having the gusto and chutzpah to be able to challenge BMW, Infiniti, Chrysler, and Mercedes-Benz on their home turf at a bargain price. The Mach 1 takes those great DOHC heads for the 4.6L V8) and gives them to us in a much cheaper and very stylish package. Plus it sounds great.

Tagging along at the end in 5th is the Mustang GT. It's the far and away sales volume leader, but its the slug of the group in all categories. Not that it's slow, just that it's in some pretty heady company.

Honorable mention goes to the Hemi Chrysler 300C and Dodge Magnum. Good work getting RWD and V8 power back into American cars (plus those 300C's are selling like mad around here) now let's see a hot rod coupe with that 345+ hp.

I'd say that's a pretty fair assessment of modern muscle.

[JoeRocket]

pretty fair assessment indeed. you know your stuff, and give a very convincing argument. have you ever thought of writing for an automotive magazine? Now, i know i specified "muscle car", which is exactly the category you reviewed. But, to me, many imports now cross overs somewhat into this category (IMO) i.e. 350z. How do you think imports would fall into your ratings? they obviously have a slight advantage gross overall weight, and the fuel economy advantage. but when your talking asphalt ripping speed in the quarter mile, 0-60, and agility in the slalom(sp), combined with bang for your buck, i believe some tuners may place high on your list. what do you think? (im usually a truck guy, so im trying to learn)

[73455transam]

Imports are NOT muscle cars. A muscle car needs to be domestic. This mainly because muscle cars shouldn't sound like weed-eaters.

[65Ponchoboy]

imports are not and will never be muscle cars. they can keep trying to be the posers they are but thats about it. hey um i dunno if you guys would classify this as a current muscle car but what about the cadillac XLR with the 320hp 4.6 Northstar? and while i was looking through the caddy site i thought this was sick, they are making a speical V series CTS with a 400hp 5.7 LS6 now would u classify this as muscle or as a insane yuppie grocery getter

[xyfalconsrock]

Australia's own Ford Falcon GT with its BOSS 290 putting out 290Kw(cant remember the HP) and running mid-high 14's at the quarter mile.Not forgetting its a heavy 4 door(1.8t).Also not being a holden man i'd still have to say the HRT427 that was very close to being released.7.0L says it all.Most of australia's big muscle is priced under $70,000 and is capable of killing many imports.But all the ford fans are waiting for the re-introduction of the mighty 351(fingers crossed)

[Sean_S]

Originally Posted by Layla's Keeper

Honorable mention goes to the Hemi Chrysler 300C and Dodge Magnum. Good work getting RWD and V8 power back into American cars (plus those 300C's are selling like mad around here) now let's see a hot rod coupe with that 345+ hp.

You won't have to wait too long. The SRT-8 will be a 425+ hp version of the 300C.

[JoeRocket]

wow, calm down guys. just throwing out a little mental stimulation. so the exhaust note is what makes it a muscle car? or the fact that it "needs to be domestic?"

[strongboy2005]

i have always thought a "muscle car" had to be domestic and between 1964 and 1973.

[BleedDodge]

Y2K and newer you say? Well it was August 2001 when I bought my Challenger, if that counts. Challengers are my favorite muscle cars. I know people say that they're pony cars and stuff, but no, this one was a muscle car. It moved like one, so I don't care what people say.

[Layla's Keeper]

Well, if we were to cut out "muscle car" at 1973, we leave out some truly fine 70's muscle beasts that ran good numbers even when saddled with smogged out engines and federal safety standards.

1974 Hurst/Olds Cutlass W-30



1977-78 6.6L Firebird Trans-Am "Blackbird".



1977 Monza Mirage



Credit where credit's due, guys. GM was still trying to make performance cars in the 70's long after the writing was on the wall.

[JoeRocket]

I guess what i was getting at guys. what makes it a "muscle car"? I had a 1977 Buick LeSabre years ago, with a 350 V-8. People never considered my car a "muscle car", Yet I often hear people calling the v-6 mustang they got from the rental car agency a "muscle car". I think you guys answered it for me. "Muscle Car" is a symbol from an Era in our past. whether its 1970's steel or Y2K carbon fiber, Its more a state of mind and a set of American ideals.

[strongboy2005]

I've just always thought of a "muscle car" as the big, squarish, powerful cars from the 60s. When you show me a picture of a car from the mid-to-late 70s and 80s, you can just look at it and KNOW it's not a muscle car. I would say "muscle car" is not just a performance standard - it's an image. And I've always felt that the image set by the muscle cars of old was so distinct from what exists today (after the new emissions laws), that they deserve to be named muscle cars.

[Ace$nyper]

I think there are no current ones there sports cars now. Last "real" muscle cars were the 80s GN Monte Carlo.

[Musclecarclub]

Muscle cars are at the broadest definition, an American two door car with a V8 and a back seat. I would put imports under "sporty cars" or "sport cars." Modern muscle cars would include the Pony cars (Camaro, Firebird, Mustang), and the new GTO.